Marriage is Murder

Cassidy looked at her then at Robert " Giggly cookies?" she asked not having heard of them before ether " well here is a normal one for now " she chuckled and looked at Robert shaking her head " I'm guessing that's a name for something else but I can't think what it would be " she smiled a she placed the lid back on the cookie jar " guess I should put these back before Jack gets hold of them and we have none left" she waved and flicked her wand. "wingardium leviosa" she said and the jar floated back up to its place on the shelf Cassidy chuckled again " thought she'd enjoy getting it down" she grinned at Robert.

"Snickerdoodles. I think she took the snicker-thing a bit too literally," Robert. "Its amazing what a two year old picks up. You lot stay a bit closer to her. I dont know what Escobar is up to, but clearly he could have killed Abbey or Khaat a long time ago, and he hasn't. Hasn't harmed them or bewitched them. So I don't know what he wants. Dont' interfere unless you have to. Just be watchful. I want to know what his game is. If I have to, I'll have Brian bring Khaat back early."

"So you can use her as bait?" Angus asked, loaded down with packages from Diagon Alley.

"Exactly," Robert said.

Cassidy chuckled and looked at Abby " ah I have heard of them not ate any myself " she said then listened again to Robert as he spoke of staying close to Abby " ow don't worry Robert we will" she listened longer and shook her head as Angus spoke " he's right Robert leave them where she is , don't you think if he was going to harm them he would have and not used her to come here , he had plenty of time back on the other estate when they were alone, why come here to kill his only way back, no I think its more than that and if you don't mind me saying, we need to see this through and see what he has planed but with out placing Khaat or Abby in danger."

Cassidy looked at Angus and coughed softly,"Um..okay, sorry, kinda got carried away there for a moment, hope I wasn't out of turn?" she asked a she folded her arms across her chest as she waited for the possible chewing out that she felt was to come.

"That was precisely my plan," Robert said. "Do keep her from bringing that bloody bat into the house if you can help it, won't you? Vermin belongs outside." He excused himself and went up to his room and opened the floo and contacted Brian. He found that Brian was relatively alone. Khaat was a few steps away in the pool and Brian was supervising her endurance swimming. Robert revealed to him the new development.

Brian wasn't entirely pleased at Escobar had gotten in so very easily, but he had already seen that Escobar could well have killed Khaat a lot sooner but hadn't. And surely he could have killed Abbey immediately but hadn't. He agreed with Robert quickly, and Brian also had never forgotten Abbey's drawing. Brian's immediate thought had been was that for some odd reason Escobar was, in his own way, watching out for Khaat. Why, Brian did not know. But it certainly merited finding out.

Brian decided that he would tell Khaat the truth. He was sure Khaat would want to make an immediate return for the sake of her child.

Cassidy moved to Abby and sat with her " hey wanna do some drawing?" she asked " maybe later we could grab another cookie " she whispered to her as she smiled taking out a crayon and began drawing James wandered over and sat with Cassidy leaning back against her as he too drew images but they were of pigs and cows and horses in a field. Steven moved to sit close but not too close as Jack and Jess watched the others, Jim moved to the chess board and sat down this board was ivory and ebony much to Jim's liking as he picked up a chess piece and looked it over.

Abbey sat with Cassidy and picked up a crayon and began drawing. She wasnt' giving much thought to it. The only thought she had at the moment was her cookie, really.

In the safehouse, Brian closed the floo and went out to the pool and crouched near the pool. "You can stop now, if you want. You've done enough for one day, I think," he said.

"You going easy on me today?" she asked.

"You know its just temporary," he laughed. "You're doing very well, though, you know. They're going to have a hard time even recognizing you now compared to how damaged you were when we left a couple months ago. You've come a long way."

"Its not where you want me, and we both know it," she sighed, leaning on the edge of the pool.

"Listen," he said. "You've not gained the weight back as quick as I'd have liked, but you have gained some. You've toned up very nicely, and I do like you much better with a bit of a tan than without one. And, the only time you lose your speech now is if you get caught up in some sort of strong negative thinking. Otherwise, you're fine. You still thinking of cutting your hair short?"

"I dont' know. I might have to give that more thought," she said. "What do you think?"

"Its your hair," he said. "But personally, I like it long."

"Then I'll leave it," she said. "But you didn't come out here to talk to me about my hair. What is it?"

"We need to go back," he said softly. "I'm sorry."

"What's wrong?"

"Escobar. Somehow he's managed to befriend Abbey enough that she thinks she's adopted him as a pet and she brought him home to England with her. To our estate." Khaat sighed. "I need to go protect her."

"No," Khaat said. "He wont' hurt Abbey."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I...dont' know. I just know. But you're right. If he's on our grounds, we have to go back."

"You change," Brian said. "I'll pack." She nodded, getting out of the pool and heading into the house.

Cassidy finished her drawing and smiled watching the others as Jess walked down from making sure the children had all they needed beside their beds and with in reach of the nursary staff. Jess smiled at seeing them ll sat quiet and drawing Jim pondered over his imaginary game and Jack watched out side at the tree line knowing or rather feeling that that bat would not come close to the house or he would flatten it into mush. Jess walked over to Jack and sat him .

" it will be nice to see Khaat and Brian , I wonder how she's doing " she asked leaving against Jack who wrapped his arm around her and sighed relaxing with her.

Khaat changed quickly, and Brian looked at her clothes.

"You're forgetting we're going back to snow, honey," he laughed. "The shorts and the tank top aren't going to work. You're going to freeze. Try these." He handed her a pair of jeans and a white v neck cashmere sweater, setting out her favorite suede boots for her. She changed again, and he packed her shorts.

He set out her long suede duster and laid out his winter jacket as well. "I hate snow," she sighed.

"I know," he laughed. "But if you get a chance to do some cross country skiing this year, you'll remember there were some good things about snow."

"Can't remember a one of those now," she said.

"You do know that is not a problem with your memory, right?" he laughed, closing their bag.

"I don't want to leave here," she sighed.

"I know," he sympathized. "I was looking forward to practicing being newlyweds awhile." He kissed her slowly.

"Not gonna happen for awhile," she said

"I bet we can find a way to slip away for a little bit at a time. Maybe a muggle movie, or out to dinner...or..."

"You mean a date?" she looked at him.

"Its not such an absurd concept," he said, handing her her coat. She reluctantly put it on, while he put on his coat and picked up their bag.

Meanwhile, Abbey had been scribbling with the yellow crayon. "Mama coming," she sang in a singsong sort of tone. "Mama coming home."

Jess looked at Kate and smiled " I might be guessing here but I think Khaat and Brian are coming home" she said smiling as she listened to Abby's sing song as she drew her pictures " what makes you think shes coming home?" Jess asked her gently from where she sat Cassidy moved closer to Abby looking at the pictures she had drawn. Jim moved a piece then another in his game against an invisible opponent. Steven looked at the flu but saw nobody appear then looked to Robert.

" hum well I hope they brought snow boots with them " he said and chuckled " good weather for a sleigh ride but not for unicorns or griffins" he said as he sat down near the fire to stay warm.

"I no know," Abbey shrugged. "I just know."

"You don't have to know how you know," Robert told Abbey. "The fact that you know is just fine. I bet she misses you."

"I no know," Abbey shrugged again. She dropped her crayon on the floor and got up and dashed out to the front porch and stood there just waiting. Robert kept a close eye on her, hoping she wasn't just buggering off to chase that bat again

Khaat and Brian ported in, right onto the front porch, just footsteps in front of Abbey.

"What are you doing out here in your socks?" Brian asked her, picking her up quickly.

"I wait for you, Daddy," she said, throwing her arms around his neck.